Steaming pots of freshly brewed coffee in the kitchen, vases of fresh flowers in every room, magnolia walls and copies of Country Living on the table are all good places to start, but experts have revealed a few things which are instant property turn-offs.

DIY disasters and cluttered bedrooms are a big no, no, with property experts suggesting they could knock around £10,000 off the price of your home.

These are the 10 things to avoid when selling your home

1. Evidence of pets

Your furry friend could be preventing you from selling your home. (Image: Getty)

Although 45 per cent of people in the UK own a pet, buyers won’t necessarily welcome them when viewing your property.

Concerns over cleanliness such as pet hairs on the furniture and the pong of pet odours from litter trays, cages and dog baskets can reduce the value of a house by more than £11,000.

2. Illegal improvements

A surprising number of people have made home renovations without the proper planning permission, but it’s not surprising that this can cause big problems when it comes to selling and can even render your home untouchable for buyers.

3. Dodgy décor

People do judge appearances even if they plan to make changes once they move in.

So while you might love eye-popping colours, swirling carpet patterns and cheerful wallpaper with flowers, birds or animals all over it, they might not.

It will become too distracting and they won't be able to see the rooms and spaces as they really are. Do some simple decorating in plain colours or be prepared to get lower offers.

4. Overgrown gardens

An overgrown garden is an easy way to turn off buyers (Image: Getty)

Many people won’t even consider looking inside a house if they don’t like what they see on the outside.

But if they do decide to book a viewing, a potential buyer could ask for a 20 per cent discount for an unappealing garden or yard. It pays to mow those lawns and weed those borders when a house is up for sale.

5. Swimming pools

In warmer climates swimming pools are expected and typically used throughout the year. In cool climates however, pools often mean money down the drain.

So while a pool might add value in Palm Springs, it doesn't do so in the UK because it's likely to be unusable for much of the year and just end up looking dirty and unloved with dead leaves floating in it.

The UK's unpredictable weather means temporary alternatives like padding pools are the usual thing, or smaller and warmer options like a hot tub - and even those are seasonal. If you instead have a permanent pool in the back garden, it will reduce the appeal of your property, the experts said.

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6. House numbers

Superstition can have a major influence on house prices. If you live at number 13, you should consider changing your house number to a name. In some places, they don't even use the number 13 on homes or building floors.

Research conducted by Zoopla found that homes at unlucky number 13 could be worth £3,900 less than neighbouring properties.

7. Poor energy efficiency

Double glazing is desired. (Image: Getty)

Spending on energy efficiency will not only save you money on your bills, it will insulate your home against loss of value when you decide to put it on the market.

Double-glazing is the most obvious visual sign of an energy-efficient home - and UPVC windows will look much better than wooden frames with flaking paintwork. Otherwise you can expect a potential buyer to at least deduct the cost of having new windows fitted once they move in.

However, solar panels are apparently not seen as appealing so you'll need to put buyer's minds at rest over how they work, how safe they are, etc.

8. Outdated fixtures and fittings

Buying a property is already a big investment, so many buyers won’t want to immediately spend additional funds on installing a new kitchen or bathroom.

That avocado suite might have to go if you want to move. New cupboard doors and a coat of paint can transform a kitchen without needing to replace everything.

9. Poor parking

Having a parking space is highly sought-after by potential buyers. Not only could it add up to £22,500 to the value of your house but it can provide more space, security and even the opportunity for owners to earn extra income by renting it out.

If you don't have a driveway and there's no space to consider having one laid, be prepared for lower offers on your home.

10. Cluttered rooms

Tidying your room is an easy way to make a good first impression (Image: Getty)

Tidying your home before a valuation or viewing is one of the easiest things you can do to make a good first impression and could also boost your property value by up to £11,000.

It's a good chance to clear out years of accumulated clutter by taking it to charity shops and car boot sales, or putting it on eBay, Shpock or similar sites.

You could consider boxing up large displays of books, DVDs, knick-knacks and collectables that you definitely want to keep and then putting them out of the way or, if you can afford it, into temporary storage.

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Top tips for selling your home

Kai Feller, co-founder of Bark.com, said: "Selling a house can be a complicated process, especially when it comes to trying to please potential buyers. However, there are several steps homeowners can take to add as much value to a property as possible.

"We’ve been monitoring the demand for our home improvement service providers and decided to do some research into the effect these services could have on house prices.

"Some of these changes are simple, such as thoroughly tidying bedrooms for example, but research has shown that they really do make a huge difference to potential buyers."

He added: "The resulting guide highlights the most common things that affect property value and we hope that it will be a useful reference for homeowners around the UK, potentially earning them thousands of pounds when they come to sell.

"If you do spot something you’re guilty of, there’s usually a local service provider who can help."